Scientists have predicted an increase in cases of water and mosquito-borne diseases. The forecast followed flooding in several communities across the country and the consequent contamination of water sources.
According to the chief executive officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu in a chat with newsmen , there will be more stagnant water that will breed mosquitoes, resulting in rise in mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever while flooding can disperse faecal contaminants, increasing risks of outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.He therefore cautioned that the effect of flooding being experienced in some parts of the country may lead to rise in water and mosquito-borne diseases.
In his own submission, emeritus professor of forest ecology at the University of Ibadan and chairman of the board of directors, Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST), David Okali, regretted that the flooding is being compounded by the lack of drainage channels, especially in urban areas.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had issued warnings of flooding, which may affect 13 states, especially around the Rivers Niger and Benue.
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